Catherine Terry and leaders of the 13th SC (E) gathered to recognize and celebrate the philanthropic contributions and the impact 13th SC (E) volunteers have made around the 13th SC (E) and the surrounding community.

“They’re the backbone of the 13th Sustainment Command, in a sense,” said Terry speaking of the volunteers present at the awards ceremony. “When they volunteer I think it is because they really care, and that’s what gives the Army and the 13th SC (E) its heart.”

One of those volunteers was certificate of merit recipient, Staff. Sgt. Timothy D. Garland, a chemical specialist with the 46th Chemical Company, 2ndChemical Battalion, 64th Corps Support Group, 13thSC (E).

Aside from being a full-time Soldier, Garland is a prison minister.

“Volunteering to me is part of life,” Garland said. “I don’t consider what I do volunteering. I think it’s our duty as human beings to help others,” he said. “I enjoy helping people; whether it’s someone on the side of the road or someone that is incarcerated.”

Garland said volunteering and helping others in their time of need became innate. Garland was raised in a home where strangers quickly became honorary members of the family only to see them go and welcome in others seeking shelter or refuge.

“My dad was a minister and still is a minister,” Garland said. “He always had people in and out of our house; I guess because of my upbringing (helping others) kind of became natural to me,” he said.

Garland actively visits inmates in prison with his church group trying to give those incarcerated a sense of hope, said Garland.

“Members of the church go to the prison and we have church services for the inmates, on occasions we get with the inmates one on one and talk to them and they tell us about their problems, things of that nature,” Garland said.

Like most volunteers, Garland said he believes philanthropy is not something that should be rewarded.

“I appreciate my award, but once again, you don’t volunteer for the recognition,” he said.” I don’t think you should be put in the spot light because of volunteering.”

Terry knows this all too well; she said she knows most volunteers would rather not be recognized for their accomplishments.

“We need to recognize volunteers,” said Terry. “They are what makes everything run so smoothly and they are just wonderful.” “I don’t think it’s very important that it’s volunteer of quarter or volunteer award of merit, the fact is that we want to acknowledge all these great volunteers and what they do,” said Terry.

“As my husband said, ‘they don’t want the recognition and that’s why we have to do it, because they are wonderful people.”